Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Online Purchasing Pilot

Last Published: 10/11/2018

FNS Announces Selection of Retailers

On January 5th 2017, FNS announced the selection of seven retailers for the initial launch of the SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot. Since that time, FNS has offered participation in phase one of the pilot to additional retailers.

Amazon

Dash’s Market

FreshDirect

Hart’s Local Grocers

Hy-Vee, Inc.

Safeway

ShopRite

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Wright’s Markets, Inc

The selected retailers are working on system enhancements to enable SNAP online transactions. FNS anticipates the Pilot to launch in 2019, after all system enhancements are complete.

Based on selections made by each retailer during the application process, and subsequent agreement by the State Agency, the following States are anticipated to be part of the pilot:

Alabama

Iowa

Maryland

Nebraska

New Jersey

New York

Oregon

Washington

Background

The 2014 Farm Bill mandated a pilot be conducted to test the feasibility and implications of allowing retail food stores to accept SNAP benefits through online transactions. For households to make online purchases, the online shopping and payment pilot is required to be secure, private, easy to use, and provide similar support to that found for SNAP transactions in a retail store. Benefits cannot be used to pay for fees of any type, such as delivery, service, or convenience fees. The pilot will involve at least five online retailers in at least three States. The goal is to ensure that the foundational infrastructure necessary for running SNAP transactions online operates in a safe and secure manner.

On September 15, 2016, FNS released a request for retailer volunteers (RFV) to solicit applications for a two-year SNAP Online Purchasing Pilot (Pilot). To be eligible to apply, applicants had to meet the requirements outlined in the RFV. Applications were due by November 7, 2016.